ARSONISTS who torched two mini diggers on the canal bank at Silsden have been branded “mindless” by local politicians.

Keighley MP John Grogan and town and district councillor Adrian Naylor spoke out after the night-time attack this month on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Firefighters had to carry their hoses half a mile on foot because their vehicles could not get down narrow Brunthwaite Bridge Lane to reach the canal.

The diggers were being used by contractors undertaking a £2.9 million project to improve towpaths across West Yorkshire.

The CityConnect work, which includes improving the surface of the towpath between Silsden and Riddlesden, aims to improve cycling and walking access.

Keighley MP John Grogan called the twin arson attack a “mindless and dangerous act of criminal damage” which followed other recent arson incidents in Silsden mentioned to him by residents.

He said: “I know the police are taking these very seriously. I would appeal for anybody who has any information to contact Crimestoppers. The work on the towpath will go on. This incident leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for all those involved in the project.”

Cllr Adrian Naylor, who sits on both Bradford and Silsden councils, believes the arsonists must have planned their attack on the diggers in advance.

He said: “The location is not in town, you have to deliberately make your way towards it. It’s a difficult place to reach by vehicle or on foot. You have to carry material need to set the fire. There’s nobody around at that time of night.

“It beggars belief. It’s mindless vandalism on a project that is doing the people of Silsden a service. These are improvements to the towpath in Silsden that lots of people use.”

Cllr Naylor said that if the arsonists’ motivation was anger at the number of new housing developments in Silsden, they had chosen the wrong targets, adding: “This is a towpath that people walk and cycle on, it’s nowhere near a housing development.”

West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were investigating reports of two diggers being set alight near to a canal towpath and said: “The incident happened on June 11 at around 1am on the towpath next to Hainsworth Bridge lane near to Silsden canal.

“Officers have been conducting enquiries, including CCTV work.”

Police were not able to comment on reports of other arson incidents in Silsden in recent weeks.

“Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting crime reference number 13180281659.”

CityConnect, which is funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is a £60 million programme aimed at making it easier for people to cycle and walk.

The Silsden work is part of improvements to four canals to re surface ‘missing links’ in the towpath network and open up access to some of the region’s best countryside.

Mr Grogan, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, helped launch the scheme in the spring by breaking ground on the towpath near Silsden Road Bridge. The improvements cover 2.7km of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, between Lodge Hill Bridge at Riddlesden Golf Club and Silsden Road Bridge.